Osceola proclaims National Travel and Tourism Week; Experience Kissimmee and CFHLA highlight workforce and education partnerships

The Osceola Board of County Commissioners on May 5 adopted a proclamation declaring May 4–10, 2025, as National Travel and Tourism Week in Osceola County and heard brief remarks from county tourism partners.

The proclamation cites regional visitation and economic figures read on the record, including a claim that Central Florida welcomed more than 74 million visitors in 2023 and cited multi-billion-dollar regional economic impacts and jobs supported. The document also noted tourism-related tax revenue and overnight accommodations statistics as read during the proclamation.

A representative of Experience Kissimmee accepted the proclamation and thanked the board for the partnership, saying the organization looks forward to continuing to “promote the tourism and travel industry here in Osceola County and adding to those 40,000 jobs locally.” The representative noted a recent tree-planting project at Pioneer Village and described ongoing collaboration with Valencia College and local school programs.

A representative of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) noted a multi-year effort to build school-to-career pathways, describing a county high-school culinary competition that drew more than 150 students from seven schools and provides scholarship and career pathways into hospitality programs such as Valencia College and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida.

The proclamation and remarks were ceremonial; the board adopted the proclamation by voice vote. No financial appropriation or regulatory change accompanied the proclamation.